I don't think I understand modern art, yet I spend hours here every visit. I usually prefer to wonder alone but sometimes tours are nice because then I can talk to others who also enjoy but don't understand the exhibits either. read more

Beacon, NY - virtually every person I've brought to DIA has had the exact same reaction of "WTF is this?" when they glance upon the pile of dirt, roomful of garbage, or giant monochromatic canvas, and throw up their hands in irritation and bewilderment. It's part of the fun (at least everything's a conversation piece, as you argue what is the point/meaning of this), but I appreciate the BS check called out by my philistine friends and husband who are unmoved by the academic hoo-ha that I, a pretentious art twat fed a steady diet of "theory & criticism" at university, so love to make a cerebral meal out of. Conceptual and contemporary art aren't everyone's cup of tea, but you don't have to understand or even appreciate art to bask in this massive gallery of space, light, airiness, minimalist beauty, and contemplation. To walk through these open spaces is meditation. And if you stay into the afternoon, the light is spectacular. Plus, like in any art museum, it's always fun to check out the hip international street fashion people are sporting. In addition to the changing exhibitions and installations showcasing both established voices and next-gen up-and-comers, DIA boasts works of magnificent scale by the likes of Richard Serra, Andy Warhol, Louise Bourgeois, Gerhardt Richter, etc. in its permanent or longterm collection that to me is worth the price of admission alone. The collection highlights works by many important artists of the 60s & 70s, the era in which DIA was founded to help artists achieve visionary projects that were ambitious in size or scope. The basement level always has cool special exhibits, so don't miss it! And if you think "jeez my kid can make this!", take them to the family friendly events and programs like Saturday Studio where your little Mondrian or Damien Hurst in the making can create projects that are surely refrigerator- if not gallery-worthy. Then save it for 40 years and auction off their "Untitled #1" or tape a piece of fruit to a wall for buckaroos when they become famous. If this experience really leaves you miserable, you can escape to the quaint towns of Beacon or nearby Cold Springs after, where there's lots to do, shop, eat & drink. This is a fantastic stretch of the Hudson Valley to explore! To conclude, I'd love to invite you to my next performance art happening, where I light a pile of debris on fire and title it "Hot Trash." read more

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My first time in this museum and I loved it! Modern and contemporary art that makes you think and analyze (as art should!). The museum itself is huge, with several floors, so you could easily spend several hours here. Would def recommend going and exploring the restaurants/ bars nearby. read more

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Finally made it to Dia Beacon and am so happy I did! We got lucky and saw some pretty cool exhibits, including Richard Serra's pieces that my husband loved. It's a short walk from the train station in Beacon but there's also a free parking lot. Tickets are $25. Plan to spend at least a couple hours here to get through everything with enough time to really savor it. There's so much to see here. There's also a cute cafe with yummy focaccia if you're looking for a little snack on your way out! read more

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Dia Beacon is a lovely museum. General Adult admission is $20, and I felt it was worth it. I took a day trip from New York city (Metro North). Dia Beacon is only a 10 minute walk from the station, which was nice. The outside is beautiful and serene, and so is the museum itself. Of course, the interesting art is very captivating. It focuses on modern art and a lot of holistic exhibits and scenes. I like how each of the exhibits offers multiple laminated sheets rather than having the exhibit labels on the wall, so you can read about the exhibit while examining the art or space. The building it also beautiful to look at and walk around. It was refreshing to go to a museum that isn't packed full of tourists (i still love you, NYC); there were times my partner and I were the only ones in the room, even though we visited on a Sunday! You got to visit Dia Beacon while you're in town! read more

Dia Beacon - exhibit - Museums Near Me - Beacon, New York

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I've always had a bit of a beef with modern art. Well I don't know if "beef" is the right term, but I guess I'm one of those people who don't really get it. I don't see the merit to a rectangle of patchy moss on the ground, shards of broken glass on the floor, a big hole in the floor, or barbed wire just hanging in a room. I just have so much more respect and admiration for a good painting or a sculpture. While I'm standing on business with that opinion, what I loved so much about Dia Beacon was the building itself. It is an old Nabisco box-printing facility that has been repurposed into this museum. It is ENORMOUS, and the layout and the architecture are captivatingly beautiful. You could walk around in here for hours, and I did ahahaa. There is something I find so fascinating about old industrial buildings like this. It may be how the sheer size and magnitude makes me feel how small we are individually, but together we can build something amazing..... Okay that may be corny af ahaahha but I just feel like anything is possible when I am in a big building like this. I was walking around in here for probably 2 hours with my hands behind my back, just appreciating the peace and quiet more than anything else. There is a certain reverence I felt in here that I don't get often, as most popular museums are overrun with tourists and the manic energy that comes with them. I actually felt like I could breathe in here.... and I went prime time on a Saturday lol. I will admit the Warhol portion is sick though, he's a legend. IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov_reviews read more

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Amazing art museum set in an old warehouse and with an outdoor component. Definitely with the visit. I recommend off peak visits as it can get quite crowded. read more

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Visit to the Dia museum is a great end to a day trip to Beacon. It's a quick walk from the train station. The space is cavernous, as it used to be a former Nabisco factory. That said, it's not particularly well utilized. Lots of rooms feel empty and some of the art is minimalist to the point where it barely registers in the huge space . There are some very cool rooms. The basement hall Steve McQueen exhibit is interactive and disorienting in a good way. The upper level sculptures are also worth exploring . Andy Warhol prints are great . read more

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To those who have little experience with more modern art but who come with an open mind, this place is a treasure. The installations are extraordinarily well thought out and can be provocative... in a way that stretches your mind... if you allow it to. Very happy we came. I understand that it may be going against the thinking of many artists but, as a person coming to the museum with little knowledge about it or frame of reference for what I found, I found myself asking questions, about myself in relation to what I was seeing. I wonder if it would possible to provide visitors with a few simple questions for reflection... questions that would be generic enough to be applicable to any and all of the exhibits, if a person would choose to do so. read more

Gorgeous architecture and collection of modern art. Dea Beacon is very secluded and difficult to reach unless you have a car or is willing to take ~1.5 hour train ride from NYC, but it's very much worth the effort!! As mention the venue itself is amazing and spacious to cater to the wide-ranging scales of artwork. Every space was picture perfect and was complimented by the artwork. Reserve your tickets in advance and tickets are around $15-$20. Highly recommend the art/museum enthusiasts! read more

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Love going and love the space. There are a few installations that have been there for years, so I would love to see some more new things when I go. Staff were mostly nice, some a little overbearing. Wouldn't go back regularly, but once every few years is good. read more

Dia Beacon - Art - Museums Near Me - Beacon, New York

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A spacious small museum with wonderful lighting and acoustics. I have visited this museum over many years, so some photos may reflect previous exhibits. Artwork exhibited is from the period covering the 1960's to the present. My favoritesto date are by Richard Serra, Louise Bourgeois and Dan Flavin. Great rainy day destination. A Metro North train ride only an hour (express) away from midtown Manhattan. read more

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I recently visited Beacon for the first time and this was a pleasant way to spend a rainy day. It's a huge and well maintained space. I'll start by saying something that sounds a little obvious but needs to be said anyway, if you really don't like modern art you won't like most of the art here. Personally there were things I really loved and things that didn't appeal to me (like with any museum). I really liked all the neon displays as well as the On Kawara Date series. I'd highly recommend reading the excerpts they have for each room as it gives context to the pieces that seem pretty simple to look at. The main display in the basement is really creepy but interesting. I wouldn't go there at night by myself. But overall a cool way to spend the day! read more

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Dia Beason isn't exactly the most accessible museum both figuratively and literally. As a contemporary art museum with large scale pieces, it can challenge and befuddle - and that's the point. And as a museum located by the Hudson, it will take presumably most of its visitors nearly an hour and a half to two by either train or car past the high rises of Manhattan to get its location in the historic and charming town of Beacon. But for my wife and I it was worth it. The pieces are incredibly immersive even without a description (ridiculously, there are only QR codes to access that), and there is an epic play with form and reality with each piece that you have to see in person to believe. I think the best museums know how to curate their pieces in a manner that allows you to discover them whilst discovering the building that houses them and Dia Beacon is no exception. read more

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The museum is located in a giant old warehouse. Vasts amount of space to display art. The Serra sculptures in the basement are very special. Other "modern" concepts you may love or question? Great book store, a cafe, indoor and seasonal out door dining. People watching is fantastic, as individuals from world wide come to view collection. Modern landscaping - beautiful to walk around. read more

Lovely museum. Very massive, which gives it the ability to showcase larger works or big collections. I liked a lot of the works there. It can be a bit overwhelming because the spaces are so massive and numerous, and the floor plan can be a bit confusing to navigate, as there are technically 3-4 levels, but they're not all the same size, and, well, it's just complicated. Forget trying to figure out the map and just ask for directions. They're currently doing timed tickets, which you can purchase on their website. The time slot is an hour long, so no worries about not hitting your time slot. Parking seems ample, especially during these Covid times. The gift is as you might expect, with seemingly a heavy emphasis on books. Bathrooms: Clean, spacious, functional, as you might expect from a massive museum in the suburbs. read more

Dia Beacon - Museums Near Me - Beacon, New York

Not my vibe, but doesn't mean that it wasn't a cool and different experience. Also doesn't mean that you won't absolutely love it! The deal - 15$ admission. Make a reservation in advance since capacity is limited and tickets will likely sell out- especially on a weekend. It took us around an hour to walk through the exhibits, but this could of course be a much longer experience if you are digging it. To me, the exhibits were a little bland. A few examples - a rock on top of a pillow, a light saber on top of a barrel of hay, and a pile of sand. The highlight of the museum was the basement level disco / rave. Fun lights, cool music - felt less like a museum and more like a warehouse party. The actual space is clean, spacious and well mapped out. There are plenty of bathrooms, and lots of staff around incase you have questions. There is also a cute gift shop / cafe area near the exit. The staff was a bit rude. Right now they are (very understandably) monitoring how close you get to the exhibits, other patrons, etc. Instead of 'telling' us we felt like we were 'reprimanded' a few times. Again, totally get that distance is more important than ever. If it needs to be said, just say it with a smile! On a cloudy and cold day this was an interesting indoor experience and a very different way to spend an hour or so. I'm glad we stopped by, but it's not likely that I will return. read more

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Dia Beacon !!!!! Among all the museums in the city, one that I have not been yet during the 20 years of Ny/NJ life. Right on the Hudson River bank, a factory style. Well .... but as for me, nothing too exciting ... and again, I am no art connoisseur ^^ Rather than the art itself, the capacious space, quiet location, unusual works can amaze you. Quite a drive from the GW Bridge, but worth it when you get there. read more

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Reviews of the DIA from various individuals range from 1 to 5. It's because art (like beauty) is subjective. What is art?? Art evokes an emotion: you can hate it or you can like it, it can elicit a smile or a head-shaking, it can inspire awe or just confusion. For this, I give DIA a 5... mostly for me since i had a lot of emotions: smiles, awe, confusion at times and even dizziness. My sense of smell was even intrigued by Beeswax. My husband would have given most exhibits a 2. But he did like the giant ellipses that you can walk through and Steve McQueen's exhibit in the basement! But we were both in agreement that the use of the massive Nabisco facility was impressive! read more

So glad we got a chance to check out Dia, it's been on my list of places to go. Unfortunately the basement is in renovations for another year but there's still plenty to see! Come check it out when you're in Beacon! read more

Dia Beacon - Museums Near Me - Beacon, New York

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I'm new to modern art and Dia was one of the main attractions of a day trip to Beacon. It's a really beautiful building with lots of natural light and big rooms to explore. The first exhibit at the entrance was way underwhelming and I worried a bit about what I had gotten us into (at $20 per person!) but the exhibits got better as we went on. Most, if not all, of the exhibits evoked some kind of feeling and I strongly suggest reading about each of them to help understand them a bit better. The Richard Serra and Michael Heizer exhibits were awe-inspiring due to their sheer size, especially when wandering within the Torqued Ellipses. The Joan Jonas basement was eerie and unsettling. My husband was a lot more skeptical of this museum at first but found things to enjoy as well. He does a lot of architectural photography for work, and was interested in how the exhibits were displayed within the space. He also really liked Dan Flavin's fluorescent light exhibits, and how the different colors of light transform the space around them. My main complaint about Dia is that it needs an attitude adjustment. It's really uncomfortable being watched like a hawk by the army of staff. At one point in the Warhol room, we got yelled at condescendingly by what seemed to be an off-duty employee (not dressed in uniform, but chatting with another employee and I can't imagine a patron would do this?) to step away from the art even though we weren't that close to it. I'm not a child, I don't need to be told not to touch a Warhol. I enjoyed my visit here but probably wouldn't come back. read more

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Interesting museum with large rooms featuring various types of art. Some you'll like, some you won't. Give it a shot.

$15 for a museum that took me about 1.5 hours to get through. There are some cool light exhibits and mostly lots of unique modern art pieces including: - multi colored tapestries - underground videos ft. a mouse - gravel/sand and mirrors - split car pieces - small confining spaces I mainly came as it's one of the most notable attractions in Beacon. Not a bad time but not one of my most favorite museums either. read more

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I went mainly to experience the Steve McQueen installation ("Bass"), and overall I enjoyed it; however, it was a bit spoiled by this: Upon entering, you're greeted with a sign directing you to be quiet so that others can enjoy the work -- but the only people making noise were the DIA staff having a full-blown, loud conversation that ran almost through the whole audio loop. They should be more respectful of the experience, especially one that relies so heavily on audio. read more

Buenos DIAs fellow yelpers. If you like art and want to see some true masterpieces, make sure to hit up the MET instead. I'm a little torn on this place because I do have a little bit of mixed feels about it. We've been wanting to come here for months and once we found out that the last Sunday of the month is free for Hudson Valley residents, we knew we had to come here even more. I love art and photography so seriously this was more of a photography playground for me than anything else. True, many do argue that art cannot be defined. It's very subjective. On that note, DIA gives you more of an experience than art. It's artsy, yes. Would I go view their art galleries without my camera and humans to shoot? Nope. There's just no possible way to do this as it's a very funky museum-ish gallery. Let's talk about the staff: rude as ever, cocky, presumptuous. You're only allowed to stay in each "gallery" for no more than like 5 minutes. Even if there's no one waiting. I get that it's to prevent overcrowding and lines forming. Fine. But honestly when it's not even busy I don't get the big deal. Also, you must at all times be away from everything at least 2 feet, 2 inches, 2 steps, 2 something lol. There's this one white room geometrical black and white gallery thing that you have to take off your shoes in order to get in. Two people only allowed at once. I definitely did it for the experience and while at it, took some shots. You have to! Plan to spend here at least 2 hours, I would say three if you're with a group and want to take your time taking pictures. They're perfect for the gram. Overall, I would like to give DIA 5 stars because I truly enjoyed the photography experience side of it. However, given the fact that this is an overall experience I didn't want to base it just on my personal experience. The galleries, especially with the cool lighting, were my fave. If you go down to the basement to this weird, cool, white screen, basement-y fake rat surrounded by setting, you get some cool shots. Look, I like the concept, it's artsy, but it's not art (to me at least, so don't hate me lol!. If you go with a group of friends make sure it's people that would appreciate this and enjoy taking pictures and posing around. Otherwise they will not get it. Just looking out! Definitely not worth $15 but do go check it out when it's free! And honestly, even if you did pay $15 it's not the end of the world. You would probably enjoy it. Conclusion: it's artsy and I had an amazing time in this photography playground! read more

The "art" on display here was an insult to my intelligence. They take minimalist to a new level and they may as well had invisible art, however, the too cool for school kids from Williamsburg would have thought it was simply fabulous. Avoid, even if offered a free ticket. read more

When I think of how much money has gone to this establishment that instead could have gone to schools or housing or the MTA or just artists who are SAYING SOMETHING, I'm enraged. If you do not truly have a PASSION for contemporary art (e.g. a pile of shards of glass or tree bark shavings just on the floor. These are actual pieces...), you'll likely feel the same. I'm thoroughly furious at every person who recommended that I make the trip to this place. I could've used this $20 to visit ANY museum in the city and had a much better experience. I mean, I'm honestly sitting here thinking about how I could've even used it for groceries this week. I will NOT be back. I understand some may say I just don't "get" it, but I genuinely feel like this was not worth my time/money/energy. read more

If you are a fan of modern art, you must love the exhibition in Dia:Beacon. The artists are creative and attentive to present their ideas of life, reality or imagination. We also recommend to visit Cold Spring on the same trip which is a great place for hiking. read more

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Terrific space with amazing large scale work. Love to go here and just be at peace and absorb the art.

An abject failure of curation. Dia is a beautiful, huge warehouse space with many exhibit zones and beautiful grounds. Its primary failing is laughably poor choice of displayed works; canvas after canvas of low-imagination, basic modern pieces that easily could have been created by a child. The notable exceptions are the fantastic Louise Bourgeois spider, a few interesting neon lights, and permanent floor pieces reminiscent of the 9/11 museum memorial fountain. Modern art can be very interesting, but it's all in the detail and technique. This museum has opted to not display any information next to each exhibit except a QR code presumably to access this detail; unfortunately the WIFI was not working that day so we had to tour the museum without any context. read more

Dia Beacon - The only interesting piece of lighting - Museums Near Me - Beacon, New York

Came here for a visit with my family while we were away in Hopewell Junction for a few days and I loved the different installations in each exhibit. The political statements in some of these pieces were moving and powerful while the use of color, material and space created a beautiful experience. It was a little hard to move around safely while social distancing because it became crowded overtime but they have sanitizing stations placed all around the building which helped. The bookstore had a wide range of books for all generations and we were pleasantly surprised to see the cafe was open. I had the pleasure of trying their organic blood orange soda and homemade hummus which was delicious. If you're ever in the area and looking for artistic inspiration I would highly recommend you stop by. read more

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Such an incredible space! The works shown are representative of Modernism's last dying breath. A short period where artists and the art academic clic elite were looking to progress but were grasping at the straws of shallow conceptualisme, horrific banality and a lack of aesthetic. Richard Serra's 4 large pieces were thoughtful but need to be out in open space not crammed into a very large room. My prediction is the works in this museum today will not even be known to have existed with any consequence in the fossil record of 20th and 21st century society. read more

We visited the DIA museum in Beacon and learned about many contemporary artists and had the opportunity to admire their work. The museum is bright and open and some of the exhibits encompass whole rooms. There is lots to see inside, downstairs and outside. Some of the exhibits are large enough to walk through for a different experience. read more

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Whoo! What a fun modern museum. If you're taking the Metro-North train up, be sure to purchase your museum tickets with your train tickets; I believe it comes out to a $3 discount on museum tickets $15 General Admission $12 Students (need ID) and seniors Free for Dia members and children under 12 *closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays year round* 3 levels of exploration Ample free parking in the museum's parking lot Free coat/bag check with a purchase of admission The coat/bag check is located right by the small café There is a scheduled shuttle by the coat/bag check ($1.75) that'll take you to main street and to the Metro-North Station The museum itself is very instagram worthy. Dan Flavin's light pieces can be found here, amongst others. There were a few pieces that left be baffled and confused thinking "oh, this is art?", but that just opens the doors to make jokingly comments on your interpretation of the art piece. I saw a pile of glass shards as an art piece and though, "Ah! So this is where the glass from NYC ends up at". I ended up spending about 2 hours here without even realizing it before having to make it to my next appointment. Highly recommend this museum. read more

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The large spaces at this museum allow for pieces that would never be able to be seen at museums in New York City. Though, many of the meanings of the pieces went over my head, it was pleasant to stroll around the museum and gawk at things. Entry was a reasonable price (I think $15, from memory), and the staff were nice. It wouldn't be my favorite museum, but I would say it's worth a visit. read more

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I finally visited this museum one day when I had the day off from work, I spent about 1 1/2 to 2 hours visiting and was a bit underwhelmed. As I walked by some pieces of the art all I could think was "WTF" is this? I felt kinda crazy as I walked by pieces and saw others stopping and oohing at the broken glass on the floor or pile of old junk propped in a corner and taking 5000 pictures. Granted there were some cool pieces of art but overall I wasnt wowed. I was more wowed with the huge open space in the museum. I was walking and picturing how I would decorate one of the rooms if it was my apartment in NYC. Some of my favorite pieces were the spider where I saw people getting a bit close to the exhibit get some pics. The exhibit where it looks like living room furniture covered up in beige sheets waiting to get picked up for moving day. I also enjoyed the small garden where you can sit for awhile and listen to one of the exhibits outside. I loved the main street area in Beacon, NY and actually found a local art gallery that was so cool and much more exciting than Dia to me.(Maron Royael Gallery). Overall, I have no regrets visiting the museum but now that I've been I dont need to return. read more

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I had a terrible experience today. I went with my family to look at the pretty art just for some employee to stalk us throughout the gallery and yell at me and my cousins for not being with our parents. meanwhile there's kids much younger then us running around with our adult supervision. He would tell his other employees to keep an eye on us and single us out for no reason. He even went as far to tell security on us. Security did nothing about it. He was rude and I don't recommend going unless you want to be stalked and singled out the whole experience. The art was lovely to look at otherwise. read more

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Wow, who would've know that only two hours outside of the city there would be this hidden gem of modern art! I'd heard of DIA: Beacon before, but never had the time to plan a trip out there. Columbus Day weekend proved the best opportunity to visit out so my friend and I jumped in her car and made the trek north to see what it was all about. We arrived around 11:15 on a Monday morning and found parking quickly. It didn't seem like that many people were visiting the museum which gave for a relaxed experience in itself. Admission was discounted because we showed them our student I.D. ($14) and once we were given our entrance pins we were free to roam around. I'll start by saying that this space is MASSVIVE, no joke. I'd say it takes a good two to three hours to get through the entire place but we were just amazed at how much space the museum occupied. Maybe it's because I'm used to museum set up's in the city but this was like the Whitney x 1000. Expansive floors with either huge sculptures or large paintings were in almost every room. A variety of artist's pieces are throughout the space, placed strategically throughout so you walked efficiently through each. This museum is made for the modern art lovers. If Warhol and Flavin are artists that excite you then you've got to make the trip up here.The museum is open from 11 AM to 6 PM, but in November they'll start closing at 4. Come and visit if you've got the time! read more

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Full disclosure: i am just not hip enough for this joint. Uh-uh. Nope. No way. Modern art- if this is it- not my jig. Big, blank, empty beautiful spaces. Oh the art that could fill this old Nabisco box factory. Give me the MOMA any day. Or anything at the Smithsonian but i did not appreciate the Dia. But you just might. read more

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Gorgeous space, cool exhibits, friendly staff. First rate. I recommend going on a weekday if you can when the crowds are lighter. Bonus: food in their cafe is from Homespun Foods. read more